Hear Phish Introduce A Legendary Rocker 5 Years Before He Actually Showed Up

Phish has a long history of pranking fans, so it’s no surprise they used the occasion of April Fools’ Day in 1993 to play a particularly cruel one on the audience. The gag came during the middle of the quartet’s April 1, 1993 concert at Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon and as fate would have it, the band actually made good on what they promised five-and-a-half years later.

The show was the second of two nights at the Roseland towards the middle of a cross-country winter/spring tour that ran from February 3, 1993 through May 8, 1993. Phish’s ambitious trek featured 71 shows in a mere 94 days in support of Rift, the band’s fourth studio album, which arrived the day before the tour began.

The Vermont-based four-piece’s visit to Portland included not only the concerts at Roseland Theater but also an afternoon appearance at a star-studded benefit concert. Phish went a capella in singing “Amazing Grace” and “I Didn’t Know” on April 1, 1993 during an Ancient Forest Rally & Celebration at Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Various environmental organizations were on hand at Tom McCall Waterfront Park with the goal of saving the trees and raise environmental awareness while President Bill Clinton was in town for a forest conference. Approximately 50,000 people gathered in poor weather to watch performances by local acts, Phish, Kenny Loggins, Carole King, David Crosby, the U-KREW, Heart’s Ann & Nancy Wilson, Curtis Salgado and the Stilettos and headliner Neil Young. Bonnie Raitt was supposed to take part in the four-hour concert but was “too ill to attend” as per an Associated Press report.

Neil Young treated the massive crowd to a five-song solo set. The famed musician focused almost exclusively on classic material including “Comes A Time,” “After The Gold Rush,” “Heart Of Gold” and “Sugar Mountain.” Young also worked in the fitting “Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)” off his 1990 album with Crazy Horse, Ragged Glory.

As per notes on Phish.net and Phish.com, Phish and their crew spread a rumor that Neil Young would head over to Roseland after the benefit to make a guest appearance. Guitarist Trey Anastasio helped feed the fury by teasing “Heart Of Gold” during Phish’s first set on April Fools’ Day in Portland. He also acknowledged others on the Ancient Forest Rally & Celebration bill as he worked a bit of Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth Move” and Heart’s “Barracuda” within “Run Like An Antelope.”

The gag reached its climax towards the end of the second set when the Phish crew brought out a folding chair, Anastasio’s acoustic axe and an extra microphone. “[We have] a very special guest, we’re very very excited about this. Would you please put your hands together for Mr. Neil Young,” Trey told the crowd leading to rapturous applause.

Alas, it was April Fools’ Day and instead the audience was treated to a line of “After The Gold Rush” sung by drummer Jon Fishman as Anastasio hopped on drums. Fishman led a rendition of Syd Barrett’s “Terrapin” complete with vacuum solo and was hit in the face with a pie by what Phish.net describes as “some friends in the front row.”

“You guys bought that one,” Fish joked. After the obligatory second round of “Hold Your Head Up,” Trey Anastasio added, “You guys really fell for that one” and went on to welcome “Bill Clinton on saxophone.” To conclude the gag, Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s “Welfare Mothers” was the post-show house music.

Listen to a recording of Phish’s April 1, 1993 show queued to the Neil Young gag below:

It turned out Phish fans would just have to wait a while for the band to collaborate with Neil Young. The pairing finally took place at Farm Aid 1998 at the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois.

Phish closed out the benefit concert on October 3, 1998. Farm Aid board member Neil Young emerged during their set to join the quartet on an “Arc” jam and 20-minute version of “Down By The River.” Young stuck around for Phish’s takes on “Moonlight In Vermont,” “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” “Amazing Grace” and “Uncloudy Day” led by fellow Farm Aid board member Willie Nelson.

Young pranked Phish that night as they had planned to play “Powderfinger.” Anastasio told the story in April 2018 at a solo acoustic concert. Watch the tale and Phish jam with Neil Young below:

Phish also shared the stage with Neil Young at the famed musician’s 1998 Bridge School Benefit Concerts. Young added to “Harry Hood” and “Helpless” on October 17, 1998 and “Sad Lisa,” “Four Strong Winds” and “I Shall Be Released” on October 18, 1998 at Bay Area venue Shoreline Amphitheatre.